On the coming into force of the Kyoto Protocol

09 December 2005

WCC Statement to the High Level Segment of the UN Climate Change Conference, 9December, 2005

Mr President, Distinguished Delegates, Observers,

1. We would like to light a candle - the light being a symbol of joy and hope -because first of all we want to celebrate the coming into force of the KyotoProtocol, this being the first Meeting of the Parties. We also want to celebratethe dedication that so many people and so many countries have shown overthese days to make the Kyoto Protocol and the UN Convention on ClimateChange a success, by agreeing on the Marrakech Accords and on a workingplan on adaptation.

2. We would like to light a candle because we are thankful for the gift of life -ever so precious and ever so delicate - which for us and other people of faithwith all our differences is a gracious and sacred gift. We are thankful also forthe gift of the atmosphere as a precondition of life to all living beings. Morespecifically we want to remind us all that we ought to be thankful for the servicedelivered by poor and marginalised communities, by emitting low levelsof CO2, thereby limiting the climate impact that would occur if all peoplewould live the lives of wealthy communities, both in the South and the North.This thankfulness is meaningless however if it does not lead to doing justiceto this service. Therefore we plead for a substantial Climate Fund in whichpeople from wealthy communities acknowledge this service by paying for alltheir excess emissions above the long term sustainable and per capita equallevel, to be used for adaptation and sustainable development in poor communities.

3. We would like to light a candle because we want to remind us all of the painand disaster that is already suffered in various regions of the Earth due to climatechange; disaster to people - even going so far as to forced migration -to nature, to creation. Disaster inevitably will occur to future generations dueto the already high levels of CO2 in the atmosphere. Here we preferentiallymention people living in vulnerable living conditions like many Pacific islands,the Arctic and so many more. Also we specifically mention women and childrenin developing countries who often are first affected by the lack of water,food, fuel and sustainable livelihoods. This brings us to emphasizing oncemore the need of substantial and immediate adaptation efforts as a sign of solidarityand a consequence of the responsibility people mainly in the Northbear for the ongoing climate change.

4. We would like to light a candle because by burning down the candle we wantto remind us all that time is running out. We pray that an agreement may bereached for negotiating equitable and sustainable targets for post-2012. Torespect our pledge to prevent dangerous human interference with the climatesystem - which according to a broad consensus would amount to limitingtemperature rise to 2 degrees C - we are at a critical moment now, if not worse.We have used little over one century to come to this situation of crisis. Radicalchanges have to take place in order to make the transition to sustainabilitywithin the current century. Therefore this is the moment to decide on thesechanges. Let's acknowledge that the use of the atmosphere - being a GlobalCommons - has to be shared equally and justly. Let's conclude therefore thatwe cannot let political power, the market and technology-based economiccompetition decide on how the use of the atmosphere will be distributed.Therefore we once more point to the Contraction and Convergence Model asa valuable starting point for deliberations and negotiations.

5. We would like to light a non-fossil fuel candle as an appeal to the non-fossilfuel society that we envisage. To that end, we welcome the tremendous possibilitiesof science and technology that can be and should be shared graciously,as a crucial contribution to sustainable development all over the world.This can lead to sustainable and just societies that indeed have a significantimprovement in the quality of life over what currently exists.

6. We would like to light a candle as an acknowledgement that what we sufferfrom is not simply a technological, economic or ecological crisis, but a spiritualcrisis. Our situation is the result of valuing the certainty of political powerover the certainty of community, solidarity and justice being done to eachother; of valuing the certainty of individual control of material wealth overthe certainty of enjoying the gifts of nature and friendship. Therefore we askfor guidance to us all in making a transformation to a consciousness of communityand enjoying the bounty of nature.

7. We would like to light a candle because we remember that people have alwaysgathered around the light as a symbol of safety, warmth, community and hope.As representatives of a faith community from all the continents of our world,we ask you and dedicate ourselves to continue to build a community of justice,equity, solidarity and sustainability, as so many of you and us here presenthave tried to do in these days.

As representatives of a global community - young and old, female and male, blackand white, south and north - we invite you to join us in affirming a "SpiritualDeclaration on Climate Change" that was issued by almost 2,000 faith communityparticipants at an inter-religious event on Sunday, December 4th, here inMontreal.